About Alicia McLean
Psychology Experience
Department of Psychology, University of Central Oklahoma
Professor August 2019 – present
Associate Professor August 2014 – May 2019
Assistant Professor August 2007 – May 2012
Forensic Psychology Program Coordinator August 2014 – December 2025
- Teach courses in social psychology and applied areas, such as law, religion, and statistics; Conduct research and disseminate findings
- Supervise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students
Department of Psychology and Counseling, Southern Nazarene University
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Research July 2012 – June 2014
Director of Graduate Research March 2003 – June 2014
- Taught courses in social psychology and applied areas
- Oversaw psychology research/grants/graduate student projects
Special Education Services, Oklahoma State Department of Education
Associate Director of Data, Finance, and Assessment June 2005 – August 2007
- Drafted Oklahoma policies and procedures in special education
- Created individual district reports for special education services
- Prepared and submitted yearly state reports to the USDE
LEGAL EXPERIENCE AND MEMBERSHIPS
Attorney January 2026 - present
- Represent clients in state and federal criminal proceedings, including felony and serious misdemeanor matters, managing cases from intake through resolution
- Draft and argue pretrial motions, conduct legal research, review discovery, and prepare cases for hearings and trial
- Negotiate with prosecutors, advise clients regarding plea offers and trial risks, and maintain direct client representation and communication
- Integrate psychological science and jury-decision research into defense strategy, trial preparation, and case theory development
Oklahoma County Public Defender's Office
Assistant Public Defender October 2025 – December 2025
Licensed Legal Intern May 2024 – August 2024; August 2025 – October 2025
Criminal Defense Intern June 2023 – August 2023
- Represent clients in misdemeanor criminal dockets, in felony revocation and domestic violence review dockets, and in Rule 8 hearings
- Review file discovery; Draft motions
Law Office of Joi E. Miskel
Criminal Defense Licensed Legal Intern and Consultant August 2023 – May 2025
- Assisted in trial voir dire, presentation of opening statements, exhibits, direct and cross examination
- Reviewed file discovery; Drafted motions
National Institute of Justice, United States Department of Justice
Assistant Site Manager and Interviewer
Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program August 2000 – October 2002
- Coordinated Oklahoma County Jail and Tulsa County Jail interviews and arrestee biomedical samples
- Conducted interviews of arrestees regarding drug/alcohol use
Oklahoma Criminal Justice Resource Center
Statistical Research Specialist and Research Assistant October 1998-May 2002
- Evaluated existing drug court programs and presented findings at the inaugural Drug Court Conference
- Collected felony judgment and sentences in Oklahoma for coding, entry, and summarization
• Oklahoma Bar Association (Young Lawyers Division) • Oklahoma County Bar Association • Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association • Federal Bar Association • Cleveland County Bar Association • Ruth Bader Ginsburg Inn of Court • American Psychology-Law Society • Society for Police and Criminal Psychology
Education
- 2026-present – Master of Arts (M.A.) in Theological Studies
- Saint Paul Theological Seminary
- 2022-2025 - Juris Doctor (J.D.)
- University of Oklahoma
- Practice Area: Criminal Law
- 2021-2022 - Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.)
- Arizona State University
- Certificate Area: Criminal Law
- Certificate Area: Conflict Resolution
- 2002-2005 – Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Psychology
- University of Oklahoma
- Major Area: Social-Personality Psychology
- 2000-2002 – Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology
- University of Oklahoma
- 1997-2000 - Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology
- Southern Nazarene University
Personal Life
In addition to serving as a Professor of Psychology at the University of Central Oklahoma and advocating for clients at Lai & Turner Law Firm, Dr. McLean enjoys traveling (especially internationally), binging shows/movies, reading for pleasure, listening to rock music, cheering on her favorite football teams, and most importantly, spending time with her husband and two daughters.
Psychology research
Dr. McLean's legal psychology research centers on jury decision-making and sentencing, including how felony murder and compromise verdicts are handled, the breakdown of lesser-verdict plea bargaining, and probation conditions that are impossible to fulfill by design. Related work explores whether belief in a just world predicts juror sentencing better than dark triad personality traits, why real and fictional psychopaths hold such appeal, and racial disparities in how Oklahoma places juveniles in secure detention.
She also researches relationships, sexuality, and the psychology of religion, with work examining how gendered images of God relate to attachment and well-being, and the religious trauma caused by conversion therapy.